By Terence Farrell and Ken Knickerbocker

We’re all doing the same thing. Watching the news about the pandemic, paying attention to what states are opening back up and which aren’t, pondering why one state is taking one approach while a neighboring state seems headed in a radically different direction.

We watch, we listen, we read, we take it all in and, over a few hours or days, form our own opinions about which state’s governor is making the right decision for his or her state’s businesses, nonprofits, schools and universities . . . and which aren’t.

And then, watch out, we all start sharing those opinions with anyone and everyone who will listen. First with our families, then over the phone or Zoom meetings, with our colleagues and neighbors.

The bravest of us venture into the wilds of Facebook and/or Twitter to broadcast our (mostly) well-reasoned opinions with our online circle of friends, connections and followers.

What nearly nobody does, is tell the governor, our state senators or representatives or local elected officials what we think about remaining closed or opening our local Chester County or regional economy back up.

We want that to change, and here’s why.

As we both know first-hand — having both served as local elected public officials — gathering input and feedback is a critical element of being a good public official, a good public servant.

In this current environment where face-to-face encounters with state and local leaders are no longer possible, our representatives are encircled by ever distancing social walls.

They don’t know what we’re thinking, or why we think the way we do. Worse yet, our elected representatives do not have the benefit of hearing our creative ideas for how to open Chester County’s economy in a prudent, careful, and healthy manner.

Without our input, our elected officials will not get the input necessary to make the best decisions on our behalf. They just won’t.

Here is our simple suggestion: using the list of email addresses below, please write the Governor, write your state senator, write your state rep – tell them what you’ve been telling your family, friends and all your social media followers.

Don’t know what to write? Start out by sharing your perspective on one or all of the following three questions.

1. When should businesses, nonprofits and schools be permitted to emerge from forced lockdown or should they continue to keep their businesses and other organizations closed for a more extended period of time?
2. Which, if any, segments of Chester County’s economy should be allowed to resume normal operations immediately or in the near future?
3. When the local economy does begin to open up again, what ideas do you have to ensure that the health of employees and customers and the general public is considered?

Remember – as both of our mothers used to say – you attract more bees with honey than with vinegar. The more courteous and civil you are in your suggestions, the more likely it is your opinion will be read and considered.

Argue the merit of your ideas but don’t attack. Attacking or tossing out personal insults is not only unprofessional and rude but a sure way to ensure your opinion gets deleted before its merits are fully considered.

Please also be cognizant of the fact that our governmental system is hierarchical in nature. As we (Ken & Terence) both know, having served at the borough and County levels of government, respectively, local officials may not have the power to effect the change or implement the suggestions you advocate. They do, however, have the power of persuasion and can advocate for your positions and ideas upstream governmentally.

Here are the emails of State and local officials. Please take five minutes to let them know how you feel about opening our economy (or not) and why. Thank you!

The Governor

• Governor Tom Wolf – To contact Governor Tom Wolf with a question, comment or concern, fill in the online form here.

State Senators

• State Senator Andy Dinniman: andy@pasenate.com
• State Senator Tom Killion: tkillion@pasen.gov
• State Senator Katie Muth: senatormuth@pasenate.com
• State Senator Tim Kearney: tim.kearney@pasenate.com

State Representatives

• Representative Carolyn Comitta:  ccomitta@pahouse.net
• Representative Christina Sappey: csappey@pahouse.net
• Representative John Lawrence: jlawrence@pahousegop.com
• Representative Dan Williams: dwilliams@pahouse.net
• Representative Kristine Howard: khoward@pahouse.net
• Representative Tim Hennessey: Thenness@pahousegop.com
• Representative Danielle Friel Otten: dotten@pahouse,net
• Representative Stephen Barrar: sbarrar@pahousegop.com
• Representative Melissa Schusterman: mshusterman@pahouse.net

County Commissioners

• County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz,  Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline: business@chesco.org

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Terence Farrell is a former three-term Chester County commissioner. He and his wife live in West Chester.

Ken Knickerbocker, the publisher of VISTA Today, lives in Parkesburg. He the former president of Parkesburg Borough Council and the Octorara School Board.